Photo Agency - Astronomy - Space - Nature

> Alpha Centauri

Alpha Centauri

author: DSS/David Malin Images/Novapix

reference: a-eto01-00111

Image Size 300 DPI: 51 * 51 cm

Alpha Centauri is a binary star (Alpha Centauri A and B) located at a distance of 4.36 light-years, or 41 million million km, in the direction of the southern constellation Centaurus (The Centaur). Alpha Centauri A and Alpha Centauri B, are rather similar to the Sun; their stellar spectral types are "G2V" and "K1V", respectively. Alpha Centauri A and B orbit each other at a distance of about 3600 million km, or somewhat more than the distance of planet Uranus from the Sun. The orbital period is almost exactly 80 years.

Keywords for this photo:

ALPHA CENTAURI - ASTRONOMY - BINARY STAR - CENTAURUS - DSS - K STAR - POSTER - SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE - STAR -